Closet bar assembly



Aug. 28, 1962 c. F. MURPHY CLOSET BAR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 6, 1960 FIG.

0 F 0 F IwL L/ F PHY FIG. 2 R

BY I W Wank? W ATTO EYS Aug. 28, 1962 c. F. MURPHY 3,051,318

CLOSET BAR ASSEMBLY Filed June 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. CL/FFORD FT MURPHY BY M A 'ETO NE Y5 3,@i,3l8 Patented Aug.25, 1962 free 3,051,318 CLOSET BAR ASSEMBLY Clifiord F. Murphy, NewBritain, Conn, assign'or to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conm, acorporation of Connecticut Filed June 6, 1960, Ser. No. 34,156 7 Claims.(Cl. 211-94) This invention relates to a telescoping closet bar assemblyfor supporting garment hangers and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel andeconomical closet bar assembly having a telescoping track which isreadily roll-formed from sheet metal and which posesses excellentcharacteristics of strength, durability and ease of use and wherein thetelescoping track may be used per se to support the hangers or inconjunction with novel glides which are slidably carried in a channelthereof and receive the hangers.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved assembly comprisedof a telescoping sheet metal track and novel plastic glides forsupporting hangers wherein the glides may be readily snapped into theassembled track and wherein the glides travel smoothly from one sectionof the track to the other.

Still another object is to provide a rugged and quickly assembledtelescoping track and end support structure for a closet bar which isreadily fabricated from sheet metal stock by roll-forming techniques andwhich has high strength and resistance to longitudinal deformation.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious and in part pointedout more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closet bar assembly embodying thepresent invention as mounted in a closet shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of the closet barassembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a glide;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mode of insertionof a glide into the track; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a closet bar assembly embodying the presentinvention is illustrated as mounted on the walls of a closet shown in'dotted line and is generally comprised of an elongate telescoping track1 formed by an interfitting inner member 2 and outer member 3, mountingplates 4 in the free ends of the telescoping members which are securedto the walls by screws 6 or the like, and a plurality of glides 8slidably carried by the track and which are adapted to receive andsupport garment hangers and the like.

Referring in detail to the track construction which is best illustratedby FIGS. 2 and 6, the track is comprised of the pair of telescopingmembers 2 and 3 which are rollformed from sheet metal, each of which hasan upwardly arched convex curvilinear crown portion 10, depending linearside walls 12 and inwardly disposed U-shaped arcuate lip portions 14, 15which are spaced apart to define a channel 16 therebetween. As will beseen from FIG. 6, the edges 17 of the free ends of the arcuate lipportions 14, 15 lie in a common horizontal plane, and the upper surfaceof the arcuate lip portions 14 of the outer member 3 provide a track andbearing surface for the arcuate lip portions 15 of the inner member 2which is so dimensioned as to snugly interfit in the outer member 3 andbe freely slidable therein without any substantial play.

The curvilinear crown portion 10 should conform substantially to thecurve generally present in the head portion of hangers and the majorportion thereof is preferably defined by a radius of about 0.72 inch.Curves of smaller radii are used to smoothly blend from the majorportion of the crown into the linear side walls 12. The linear sidewalls 12 of the sheet metal member are preferably tapered slightlyinwardly and the arcuate lip portions 14, 15 should be smooth curves soas to distribute deflective forces substantially equally over theirentire length.

The mounting brackets 4- which are snapped into the free ends of thetrack 1 have oppositely extending coplanar end portions 18 and 20 whichare suitably apertured for screws 6 and the like and an intermediatesubstantially U-shaped portion 22 which extends inwardly of the trackmember. The upper leg 24 is convexly curved to conform substantially tothe crown portion 10 of the track member and is staked to provide anupwardly projecting lug 26 which extends into and engages a cooperatingaperture 28 adjacent the end of the crown portion 10 of the trackmember. The mounting bracket 4 is dimensioned so that the U-shapedportion 22 snugly interfits with the track with the upper leg 24- inengagement with the crown portion and with the lower leg 30 abuttingagainst the lips 14, 15 so that when a mounting bracket is inserted intothe track, some deformation of the track will occur until the lug 26registers with the aperture 28 in the track and snaps into place toprevent disassembly.

The glides 8 of the present invention are preferably fabricated fromnylon, high-density polyethylene or similar plastic material having alow coefficient of friction and are comprised of a longitudinallyextending head portion 32 slidably supported on the edges 17 of thearcuate lip portions 14, 15 and an intermediate depending hanger portion34 which is provided with a vertically elongate aperture 36 forreceiving hangers and the like. The bottom surfaces 37 of the headportion 32 are convexly curved in the longitudinal direction so as toprovide a rocker-type cam surface. Since the edges 17 of the arcuate lipportions 14, 15 of both the inner and outer track members lie in acommon horizontal plane, the curved bottom surfaces 37 of the headportion 32 of the glides ride freely on and are supported by the edgesof both arcuate lip portions so that the transition from one member toan area Where both members are in engagement and thence to the othermember is smooth, thus eliminating or minimizing any tendency to stickor hang up in the track under the weight of clothing supported thereby.The arcuate configuration of the lip portions 14, 15 distributes thedeflective stress placed upon the edges thereof throughout substantiallytheir entire length and thus minimizes the tendency for unduedeflection.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision oftransversely convexly curved upper surface 39 on the head portion 32 ofthe glides which cooperates with proper dimensioning of the channel 16so as to permit snapping in of the glides after the track has beenassembled and even mounted on the wall. The convex upper surface of theglides acts as a cam to flex the sheet metal track members suflicientlyto permit passage of the entire head portion into the interior of thetrack substantially in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

*A particular feature of the present invention is that the configurationof the telescoping track and its firm engagement and reinforcement bythe mounting plates provides a sturdy structure which resistslongitudinal flexure despite the fact that it may be fabricated fromrelatively thin gauge sheet metal. Furthermore, the configuration of thetrack members enables the use of conventional roll-forming techniques toprovide a readily fabricated structure at relatively lower cost.

It can be seen that the closet bar assembly of the present invention isparticularly advantageous since it enables the use of the track per seas a support for the hangers which are carried on the curvilinear crownthereof as well as in conjunction with the glides which are carried inthe channel.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closet bar assembly comprising a pair of elongate telescoping sheetmetal members, each of said members being intermediately formed with aconvexly curvilinear crown portion, linear side walls and inwardlydisposed "U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portions spaced apart to definea channel therebetween, the inner member being dimensioned so as tosnugly interfit in the outer member and be slidable therein with theupper surface of the arcuate lip portions of the outer member providinga track and bearing surface for the lip portions of the inner member,the edges of the lip portions of the inner and outer members lying insubstantially the same horizontal plane, said crown portions each havingan aperture therein adjacent their free ends; a snap-in mounting bracketengaged in each of the outer ends of said telescoping members forsecuring said assembly to the walls of a closet or the like, saidmounting bracket having oppositely extending coplanar end portions forattachment to an associated wall and an intermediate, substantiallyU-shaped portion extending inwardly of the telescoping member, theupwardly disposed leg of said U-shaped portion being convexly arched toconform substantially to the crown portion of the telescoping member andhaving an upwardly projecting lug engaged in the aperture of the crownportion of the telescoping member and the lower leg of said U-shapedportion abutting against the edges of the lip portions of thetelescoping member; and a plurality of glides in said channel, each ofsaid glides having a longitudinally extending head portion slidablysupported on the edges of said arcuate lip portions and anintermediately disposed depending hanger portion with an aperturetherein for receiving a hanger, said head portion having a transverselyconvexly curved upper surface and having its bottom surface on eitherside of said hanger portion longitudinally convexly curved, said glidesbeing insertable into the assembled track by snapping them transverselyinwardly into the channel with the convexly curved upper surfaceproviding a camming surface.

2. A closet bar assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said glidesare a synthetic plastic material having a low coefficient of friction.

3. A closet bar assembly comprising a pair of elongate telescoping sheetmetal members, each of said members being integrally formed with aconvexly. curvilinear crown portion, linear side walls and inwardlydisposed U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portions spaced apart to define achannel therebetween, the inner member being dimensioned so as to snuglyinterfit in the outer member and be slidable therein with the uppersurface of the arcuate lip portions of the outer member providing atrack and hearing surface for the lip portions of the inner member, theedges of the lip portions of the inner and outer members lying insubstantially the same horizontal plane; and a plurality of glides insaid channel, each of said guides being integrally formed from asynthetic plastic with a longitudinally extending head portion slidablysupported on the edges of said arcuate lip portions and anintermediately disposed depending hanger portion having an aperturetherein for receiving a hanger, said head portion having a transverselyconvexly curved upper surface and having its bottom surface on eitherside of said hanger portion longitudinally convexly curved, said glidesbeing insertable into the assembly track by snapping them transverselyinwardly into the channel with the convexly curved upper surfaceproviding a camming surface, and said curved bottom surfaces providingbearing surfaces for smooth movement over the intersections of the trackmembers.

4. A closet bar assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said glidesare synthetic plastic material having a low coeiiicient of friction.

5. A closet bar assembly comprising a pair of rollformed elongatetelescoping sheet metal members, each of said members being integrallyformed with a convexly curvilinear crown portion, linear side walls andinwardly disposed, substantially U-shaped convexly arcuate lip portionsdefining a channel therebetween, the inner member being dimensioned soas to snugly interfit in the outer member and be slidable therein forlongitudinal adjustment with the arcuate lip portions of the outermember providing a track and bearing surface for the lip portions of theinner member, the edges of said lip portions of inner and outer memberslying in a common horizontal plane to support hanger glides slidablycarried in said channel; and means rigidly engaged in the outer ends ofsaid telescoping members for securing the telescoping members to wallsand the like.

6. A closet bar assembly comprising a pair of elongate telescoping sheetmetal members, each of said members being integrally formed with aconvexly curvilinear crown portion, linear side walls and inwardlydisposed U-sh-aped convexly arcuate lip portions spaced apart to definea channel therebetween, the inner member being dimensioned so as tosnugly interfit in the outer member and be slidable therein with theupper surface of the arcuate lip portions of the outer member providinga track and bearing surface for the lip portions of the inner member,the edges of the lip portions of the inner and outer members lying insubstantially the same horizontal plane to support hanger glidesslidably carried in said channel, said crown portions each having anaperture therein ad jacent their outer ends; and a snap-in mountingbracket engaged in each of the outer ends of said telescoping membersfor securing said assembly to the walls of a closet or the like, saidmounting bracket having oppositely extending co-planar end portions forattachment to an associated wall and an intermediate substantiallyU-shaped portion extending inwardly of the telescoping member, theupwardly disposed leg of said U-shaped portion being convexly arched toconform substantially to the crown portion of the telescoping member andhaving an upwardly projecting lug engaged in the aperture of the crownportion of the telescoping member, and the lower leg 'of said U-shapedportion abutting against the edges of the arcuate lip portions of thetelescoping member to rigidly support the ends of said track.

7. A glide for a closet bar assembly having a pair of telescoping trackmembers with spaced apart inwardly turned substantially U-shaped lipportions in which the edges of the lip portions are disposed insubstantially the same horizontal plane, said glide being integrallyformed from a synthetic plastic material having a 10W coefiicient offriction, said glide having a longitudinally extending head portionwhich is slidably supportable on the edges of the arcuate lip portionsand an elongate intermediately disposed depending hanger portion adaptedto extend below the track members and receive a hanger, said headportion being of greater length than width and having a transverselyconvexly curved upper surface and having its bottom surface on eitherside of said depending hanger portion longitudinally convexly curved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBingharn June 21, 1904 Anderson July 9, 1912 Barnwell Feb. 7, 1922Sarkisian June 17, 1930 Howard Nov. 18, 1941 Ault Aug. 26, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS Switzerland Nov. 30, 1953 France Apr. 28, 1954

